There’s no need to go into the district to get a taste of D.C. theater: through May 18, the cast and crew of Arena Stage presents “Death of a Salesman” and “A View from the Bridge” at their temporary Arlington home. The two plays, presented in rotating repertory, are the touchstone for Arena Stage’s Arthur Miller festival, which also includes a film screening May 5, a panel discussion May 12 and a reading of selected prose work by Miller May 19.
The pairing of “Salesman” and “View” provides an opportunity to follow two stories about the peaks and valleys along the road to the American Dream. Both plays are family dramas, highlighting the ripples of conflict caused by the increasing desperation of Willy Loman and Eddie Carbone, fathers of the “Salesman” and “View” houses, respectively. Both are also love stories: in “Salesman,” Willy is driven by his quest to be “well-liked” by the world and especially by his sons, in “View” Eddie struggles to redefine his love for niece Catherine as she finds her first love.
Arena Stage’s founding artistic director Zelda Fichandler directed a repertory performance of “Salesman” in 1974 and 1976, and produced the American premiere of “View” in November 1956. The current cast includes Rick Foucheux and Nancy Robinette leading in “Salesman,” with Delaney Williams and Naomi Jacobson featured in “View.” Performances run through May 18 at the Arena Stage in Crystal City, 1800 S. Bell St., Arlington. Call 202-488-3300 or visit www.arenastage.org.
For a full review, see “Arthur Miller's Emotional Punch” at www.ConnectionNewspapers.com.